July 5, 2014

UK, 1791

Joseph Priestley's Birmingham laboratory was destroyed by rioters and fire in July 1791. Assuming the insurance claim's weight avoirdupois,

1791: 1 Troy Ounce platina (UK: 70% ore, retail purchase) = £0.3291
1791: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (UK: 70% ore, .999) ~ £0.47





June 28, 2014

USA, 1801


























USA, 1868

At 50% markup, the 1868 retail price for semi-manufactured Platinum on the East Coast, USA should have been only about $ 10.90/Ozt. (USD$ 15.25/Ozt.) 

It would appear that cash/currency prices were considerably higher, however.  In 1869, McAllister of Philadelphia charged USD$ 24./Ozt.; Chamberlain in Boston charged ~USD$ 18.61/Ozt. 

1867: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK Bid: Scrap, Trade) = USD$ 6.74 (£ 1.00)

1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Trade) = USD$ 9.18 (Fr 34.29
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Trade) = USD$ 9.71 (Fr 36.29)
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Retail) = USD$ 12.49 (Fr 46.66)
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (US Import: Paris Mfg) ~ USD$ 13.60 (Fr 50.81
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: Paris Mfg, +25% Profit) ~ USD$ 17.
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: Paris Mfg, +47% Profit) ~ USD$ 20.

1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK: Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = USD$ 8.66 (£ 1.60)
1867: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA, Ret. Import.+34% Profit) = USD$ 11.60 (£ 2.386)

1867: 1 Ozt.
Platinum (UK: Ru Pt Scrap, Customs rate) = USD$ 7.57 (£ 1.10)

  

1868: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (SPb-Paris:Ru Ingot, Bulk) = $4.50 (USD$ 6.30)
1868: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mkt) = ~$ 6.075; USD$ 8.60 (Fr. 31.10)

c.1868?: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK:Semi-Mfg, Trade-Ret.) = $ 7.26 ; USD$ 10.14 (£ 1.50)   

1868: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: UK Semi-Mfg, US Ret. +50) = $ 10.89 ; USD$ 15.25 
  
1868: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: UK Mfg, Imp. +40%) = $ 10.14 ; USD$ 14.20   
1868: 1 Ozt. Platinum (USA: Hypo. Mfg, US Ret.+50%) = $ 15. ; USD$ 21.


circa December 31, 1898:



Citation: The Mining American, Vol. 39, p.13


1868/9: 1 Ozt. Platinum (London Import:
Semi-Mfg) = $ 6.52; USD$ 8.67 (£ 1.34)
1868/9: 1 Ozt. Platinum (+15% Cost Basis:Semi-Mfg) = $ 7.50; USD$ 10.61 
1868/9: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Merchant Importer: Semi-Mfg, Trade) = $ 7.75; USD$ 11. 

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Phila.: Semi-Mfg, Trade-Ret.) = $18. in Gold (USD$ 24.)

In the USA 1867/9, Platinumware importers paid a 40% tariff. Where a 60-Gallon Platinum Still ($15k) included the 40% tariff, the actual cost was $9,000., consistent with earlier French prices. (Unknown if shipping/delivery cost more, if this was built to spec in France or UK, etc.) Logically, 60-Gallon Still should include 1,390 Ozt Platinum.

1865:  28.548 Kg, holding 39.625 Gallons, cost Fr. 30,588.4 ($5,940.)
1865:  43.227 Kg, holding 60 Gallons, cost Fr. 46,317. ($8,994.)

1868: 1 Ozt. Mfg Platinum (Imported: Bulk) = $10.7914 (USD$ 15.11)

1868: 1 Ozt. Mfg Platinum (Cost: Bulk, Net Duty) = $6.475 (USD$ 9.06)
 
1869: a platinum still which holds 60 gallons and cost the modest sum of $15,000.
1875: "a platinum still which holds 80 gallons and cost the modest sum of $20,000. The capacity of this machinery is fourteen thousand pounds of acid a day, though only eight thousand pounds are now to be produced which is about the average consumption in this city alone."




Grove's Battery: Platinum Foil, 1.25 Sq. In. (2.5 Sq. In. Surface)




US Imports:

June 26, 2014

USA, 1861

1860: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = USD $ 14.40
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Foil) = USD $ 12.00
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Wire) = USD $ 12.00  
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Sponge, Trade) = USD$ 10.

1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap, Mkt) ~ USD$ 7.25 - 7.66
1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mkt) = USD$ 8.



Where Chas. T. Chester sold platinized Silver sheet per Ounce @ $8.00, 1 dozen No. 8 cost $6.80 or $ 0.567 per sheet, or $ 0.2159/per Sq. In.

A No. 8 Gauge Pure Platina Platinized Sheet 2.625 Sq. In. weighed 34 Grains Troy, just 12.95 Grains per Sq. In. (or, 16.935 cm² weighed 2.203 Grams, just 130 Mg per Sq. cm.) 

Hypothetically, a No. 6 Gauge Pure Platina Platinized Sheet (@15 dwt. per dozen) 2.625 Sq. In. weighed 30 Grains Troy, just 11.43 Grains per Sq. In. (or, 16.935 cm² weighed 1.944 Grams, just 114.7869 Mg per Sq. cm.) 

Citation:  Catalogue of Telegraph Material, manufactured by Charles T. & J. N. Chester, 104 Centre Street, New-York. With Appendix. Chester (C. T. and J. N.), Firm. (1861)

No. 56. – Grove Platina Plates: 3.5 in. long, 0.75 in wide (2.625 Sq. In. or 5.25 Sq. In. Surface); rolled to any required gauge or number. No. 8 gives 17 dwt to one dozen pieces; No. 9 gives 18 dwt.; and No. 10 gives 19.5 dwt, etc. No. 6 is as thin as it is ever advisable to roll platina; it is used from No. 6 to No. 30.

No. 56 per Ounce .................................. $8.00
No. 56a Platina Gauge #8 ...................... $1.25
No. 56b Grove Battery Complete ........... $2.50




Where 879 Pounds Avd. is understood to be 12,818.75 Ozt,
 
1861/2: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Plate: Whols., Import.) = $ 5.2797




Where 11 Pounds Avd. is understood to be 160 Ozt,
 
1862: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Plate: Whols., Import.) = $ 5.2488 
 
Where 897 Pounds Avd. is understood to be 13,081 Ozt,
 
1862: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Plate: Whols., Import.) = $ 5.2818

May 13, 2014

France, 1813

Spring (c. April) 1813: 

c. March 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wire/Sheet, Retail) = Fr 30.50
c. March 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Retail) = Fr 34.56

In einigen französischen Druck- und Färberei - Manufakturen soll mau sich zu den benadelten und fein gezeichneten Formen des Platinadrahtes bedienen. In dem Magazin des Hrn. Jeanetty in Paris sind zu diesem Behufe sowohl blech & draht, die unze zu 30 Franken zu haben.*

Available at Mr. Jeanetty's Paris storehouse in Paris are both sheet & wire, for Fr. 30. per Once.

Citation: Journal für Chemie und Physik, Vol. 9; Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger (1812) p.112
 

June/July? 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wire/Sheet, Retail) = Fr 27.93?
July? 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Retail) = Fr 31.103


Citation: Annales de chimie ou Recueil de mémoires concernant la chimie et ..., Vol. 85; Antoine Lavoisier, Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau (1813) p.6



Janetty had a near monopoly, prior to a large importation in 1813:


Citation: Bulletin de la Société d'encouragement pour l'industrie nationale (1888) p.425





USA, 1815: US Coin

c.1815:
Bollman provided Philadelphia (and other USA?) chemists the Platinum Chloride Salt

 




To actually produce Platinum coinage, the US Mint at Philadelphia would have had to purchase bulk platina at market-rates.  For context, to produce a negligible 20,000 $1 Platinum Coins at the Experimental Coin's Weight would have required in 14,362 Ozt (446.72 Kgs) Platinum or ~ 638 Kgs of ~70% Ore.  To produce 40,000-80,000 $2.50 coins would have required 1,276 - 2,553 Kgs: an impossible quantity, given the actual Colombian yield.

(The Pattern was likely produced from useless residue on hand at no further cost/loss to the Mint, slag from Colombian Gold.  It is unknown how much Platinum accumulated at the US Mint, or what the secondary market was for however many ounces per year.)


1814: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Small Producer Cost, $15./lb avd) = $1.02857


1814: Intrinsic Value of the 1814 Pt Coin, Small Producer rate: $ 0.7386
1814: Intrinsic Value of the 1814 Pt Coin, $ 0. (Fr. ) 


Weight: 344.7 Grains Troy (0.718 Ozt ; 22.3362 Gr)
Specific gravity: 20.9
Diameter: 32.6 mm.


The 1860 intrinsic value shows:

1860: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap: US Coin, intrinsic) = USD$ 7.66


Citation: A Description of Ancient and Modern Coins; United States Bureau of the Mint, James Ross Snowden (1860)






 Charles Link acquired the coin for $138,000 at the Heritage Auctions Chicago auction in August 2011




May 1, 2014

Russia, 1916

DSQ

1916: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Ru, Export Avg.) = USD$ 68.90

June? 1916: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Ru, Export Avg.) = USD$ 68.90

June, 1916: 1 Ozt. platina (Ru Export: 83% Ore @ .999) = руб 435.45 ($ 39.14)

June, 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural Spot: .999) = руб 435.45 ($ )

June, 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (NYC: Ingot, .999) =  руб 256.16 ($ 78.13)


January 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 204.83 ($ 61.10)
January 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 246.78 ($ 73.61)

February 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 203.13 ($ 62.625)

February 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 244.74 ($ 75.45)

March 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) = 
 руб 198.89 ($ 63.15)
March 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 239.62 ($ 76.08)

April 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 205.48 ($ 63.70)

April 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 247.57 ($ 76.75)

May 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 214.37 ($ 65.92)

May 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 258.28 ($ 79.42)

June 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 209.23 ($ 63.92)

June 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 252.09 ($ 77.01)

July 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 209.16 ($ 
63.92)
July 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 252.0 ($ 77.01)

August 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 207.17 (
$ 66.45)
August 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 249.60 ($ 80.06)

September 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 204.46 ($ 66.45)

September 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 246.34 ($ 80.06)

October 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 228.97 ($ 71.44)

October 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 275.87 ($ 86.07)

November 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 267.53 ($ 80.59)

November 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 322.33 ($ 97.10)

December 1916: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Ural: 83% Ore) =  руб 232.23 ($ 69.15)


December 1916: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Ural: Ingot, .999) =  руб 279.80 ($ 83.31)


As reported 7/1916:

Citation: The Americas, Vol. 2 No. 12; National City Bank of New York












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